For Dani Meza of the crushedvelvets, having lived through one aneurysm and two strokes only fueled his desire to make the most of his life and all it has to offer, especially with music. Meza’s latest album with the crushedvelvets centers around themes of healing and vulnerability, stemming from a personal journey of learning to ask for help and reflect on past relationships. This exploration of intimacy and honesty led to an outpouring of creative inspiration.
When discussing the challenges of revisiting these relationships further, Meza acknowledges the fear and discomfort of vulnerability, mainly due to his upbringing, which encouraged emotional restraint. He and I share a desire to break away from these old habits and embrace a more open approach to expressing emotions through music. Another aspect of Meza’s creative process is the importance of boundaries while being emotionally open and vulnerable; he shares that these boundaries are necessary for safety and emotional health. Although Meza is naturally shy, he will take the time to feel comfortable with others.
While discussing selecting musicians for their album, Meza initially connected with a producer, Chris Schlarb, who suggested musicians that fit the desired sound. Meza mentioned specific musicians like Carey Frank and Danny Frankel, highlighting their impressive backgrounds and willingness to be part of the project. Meza desires to collaborate with other talented musicians, like bassist Anna Butters, noting the challenges of narrowing down potential collaborators.
Read on to discover Dani Meza’s unique music favorites!
Dani Meza’s Music Faves
The first album on CD and vinyl was Bob Dylan’s 1966 Live at Royal Albert Hall; for vinyl, it was Aretha Franklin’s Respect.
Top five must-have artists and albums:
- Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On
- Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde
- A Funkadelic album – Maggot Brain
- Leonard Cohen’s I’m Your Man
- Cold War Kids’ Robbers and Cowards
The first concert was the Coachella Festival, although he found it hard to recall since it was a festival. Lastly, Meza shares that he doesn’t watch television but has a guilty pleasure in music: 1960s French yé-yé music, which he describes as bubblegum pop with fantastic jazz influences.
Dani Meza and thecrushedvelvets’ album, “I Planted, Apollos Watered, But God Kept Making It Grow” is available now on Apple and Spotify. You can also stream their music on YouTube. Connect with Dani Meza and thecrushedvelvets on Bandcamp and Instagram.
About Dani Meza:
Dani Meza is a multi-instrumentalist from Southern California with over a decade of experience in the music scene. He is known for his soulful sound and captivating performances. He has played at major festivals and shared the stage with notable artists. After facing life-threatening medical issues in 2016, he gained a new perspective on music and performance.
About the crushedvelvets:
His current project, the crushedvelvets, showcases his artistic growth. Based out of Big Ego Studios in Long Beach, Meza and his collaborators released three EPs in 2022 and a live EP in 2023. The music is inspired by legends like Al Green and Marvin Gaye, blending nostalgia with a fresh sound.
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